Microsoft PowerPoint - The Didache.ppt [Compatibility Mode]• The
Didache, also called the The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, the
Instructions of Yahshua to His Disciples, or Hora’Ah,
• Didach means "Teaching“ • is a brief early Christian treatise, •
dated by many scholars to be written in
the first/early second century. • The first line of this treatise
is "Teaching of the
Lord to the Gentiles (or Nations) by the Twelve Apostles“
(Wikipedia)
PARTS • The text has parts which may have constituted the
first
written religious observance. • The contents may be divided into
four parts, which
scholars suggest may have been combined from separate sources by a
later redactor: – the first is the Two Ways, the Way of Life and
the Way
of Death (chapters 1-6); – the second part is a ritual dealing
with
baptism, fasting, and Communion (chapters 7-10); – the third speaks
of the ministry and how to deal with
traveling prophets (chapters 11-15); – and the final section
(chapter 16) is a brief apocalypse. I am using the translation of
Jackson H. Snyder II, from Greek, for
this presentation, in which he rearranges some portions for flow of
thoughts. Italics indicate added text for clarity.
• It was considered by some of the Church Fathers as part of the
New Testament but rejected as non-canonical by others, and
eventually it was not accepted into the New Testament canon.
• Lost for several centuries, the Didache was rediscovered in 1873
by Philotheos Bryennios, Metropolitan of Nicomedia. While in
Istanbul, he discovered the manuscript in the Jerusalem Monastery
of the Most Holy Sepulcher.
• An English translation was first published in 1883. • It is
considered part of the collection of Apostolic
Fathers.
• “The Didache of the Twelve Apostles” had been written and widely
disseminated by about the year 100, and became increasingly
important in the second and third Christian centuries.
• It is an anonymous work not belonging to any single individual,
and a pastoral manual "that reveals more about how
Jewish-Christians saw themselves and how they adapted their Judaism
for gentiles than any other book in the Christian
Scriptures."
• The Didache is mentioned by Eusebius (c. 324 – first known Church
historian) as the Teachings of the Apostles following the books
recognized as canonical.
• Athanasius (367) and Rufinus (c. 380) list the Didache among
apocrypha.
• The section Two Ways shares the same language with the Epistle of
Barnabas, chapters 18-20, sometimes word for word, sometimes added
to, dislocated, or abridged.
• There are echoes in Justin Martyr, Tatian, Theophilus of Antioch,
Cyprian, and Lactantius.
Matthew and the Didache • At the same time, significant
similarities between
the Didache and the gospel of Matthew have been found as these
writings share words, phrases, and motifs.
• Modern scholars do not support the thesis that the Didache used
Matthew.
• This close relationship between these two writings might suggest
that both documents were created in the same historical and
geographical setting.
• The Two Ways teaching (Did. 1-6) may have served as a
pre-baptismal instruction within the community of the Didache and
Matthew.
• Scholars also consider the Didache to come from the preaching of
Sts. Paul and Barnabus, or from Yashua’s successor: brothers James
then Simon.
Therefore…
• The Didache is one of the earliest Christian documents we
have.
• Regarded as a church handbook, not a Gospel or absolutely based
on the teachings of Yahshua.
• Provides valuable insights concerning the moral doctrines,
theology, rituals, and congregational testing of apostles and
prophets, and the basic organization of 1st century Christianity,
similar to the Qumran Nazarene or Essene Community. See also Acts 2
& 3 describing the commune style living of the apostles with an
appointed Overseer such as James for the Community in
Jerusalem.
The Didache in Practice Today The Ethiopian Orthodox Church accepts
the DIDASCALIA (a 3rd C expansion of Didache) as part of their New
Testament to this day.
The Didache contains instructions for both the new member and the
mevvaqre (Overseer).
It further details the principles of the 10 Commandments.
DIDACHE!(HORA’ ah! ) THE TEACHING OF THE TWELVE
For all the Tribes Life’s Road Didache 1:1 There are two roads: one
of
life and one of death. There is great variance between the two. The
road of life is this: First of all, you will care for Elohim who
brought you into being.
2 You will care for your neighbor as yourself. All that you would
not have happen to you, make sure that it does not happen to
another.
3:Pay attention to these words since this hora’ah is for you: Say
good things to those who curse you, pray about your enemies, fast
on the account of those who persecute you. How favored are you if
you only care for those who care for you? Outsiders care the same,
do they not? But if you care for those who despise you, you will
have an enemy no longer.
4 Prohibit the craving of the flesh and of culture. If anyone
strikes your right cheek, turn to him the other; in this way you
will be complete. If someone forces you to go one mile with him, go
two. If someone takes your outerwear, give him your underwear. If
someone takes what is yours, do not ask it back; you cannot get it
back anyway.
5a To everyone who asks, give; do not ask for anything back-for Av
wants gifts given to all from one’s personal wealth.
5 Anyone who gives according to the mitzvah is blessed and
guiltless. Cursed is anyone else who receives (except the needy,
who are also guiltless). Anyone who does not have a need must
answer to why he received. Confine him! for he must be examined in
connection with what he has done. He will not be released until he
has returned even the very last quadrans.
6 Similar to this is this saying:
Let your alms sweat in your hands until you have learned to whom
you should
give.
The Second Mitzvah
Didache 2:1 The second mitzvah of ha hora’ah is this: 2 You will
not commit murder, you will not commit adultery, you will not
commit pedophilia, you will not commit immorality, you will not
commit robbery, you will not perform magic, you will not practice
witchcraft, you will not murder children by abortion or kill them
once born, you will not pine for your neighbors’ goods, 3 you will
not lie, you will not witness lies, you will not speak bad things,
you will not harbor a grudge, 4 you will not be double-minded, not
double-tongued; for the double tongue is a death trap.
5 Your word(s) will not be false or empty, but proven by action. 6
You will not be greedy, a thief, a hypocrite, bad tempered, proud.
You will not make evil plans against your neighbor. 7 You will not
hate, though some you will rebuke; but for others you will pray,
and still others you will care for more than for yourself.
My Child Flee Evil
Didache 3:1 My child, run from every evil, even that which
resembles it. 2 Do not get mad, for anger leads to murder. Do not
be jealous, inciteful, enraged; murders are born from all of these.
3 My child, do not be craving, for craving surely leads to
perversity. Neither will you be foul-mouthed; from such are
adulteries conceived. 4 My child, do not cast spells, since such
leads to idolatry; do not be a medium, astrologer, or magician – do
not be in any way willing to even consider such things – for
idolatry is born out of them all. 5 My child, do not be a liar,
since lying leads to theft; do not be greedy or conceited; for
robbery is born from all of these.
6 My child, do not be a complainer, since such leads to blasphemy;
do not be selfish or one who is filthy- minded; for blasphemies are
born from all of these. 7 Instead, be gentle, since the gentle will
inherit the earth. 8 Be patient, merciful, honest, quiet, and
kindly. Always consider the words you have just heard. 9 You will
not puff up, nor will you allow disrespect to enter in. You will
not associate with the self-important, but you will walk with the
righteous and humble; 10 then even when accidents happen to you,
such will be received as good, for nothing happens without Elohim
knowing.
My Child Remember
Didache 4:1 My child, you will remember the one who speaks the Word
of Elohim to you by night and day, and you will honor that one as
the Master; for whenever the masterful speak there is the Master. 2
Moreover you will seek out the Qadoshim every single day so that
you may find shalom in their words. 3 You will not cause a rift,
but you will calm down the contentious. You will judge with right
judgment; you will not show favoritism – you may have to reprove
that one for breaking the rules. 4 And you will not worry about
whether something will be or not be.
5 Do not be found holding out your hands for receiving and drawing
them in for giving. 6 If you will give by your own hands, you will
pay a ransom for your shortcomings. 7 So you will not hesitate to
give nor complain about giving; for you will know the identity of
the best Paymaster. 8 You will not turn away from the one in need;
in fact, you will make your brother a partner in everything, not
claiming anything to be your own. For if you are partners in the
imperishable, how much more in the perishable? 9 You will not keep
your hand back from your son or daughter, but you will teach them
the fear of Elohim from their childhood. 10 You will not give
bitter commands to the man or woman you hire – those who trust in
the same Power as you do – in case (on account of your behavior)
they
might give up honoring the very same Power who is over you both.
For he is coming, not to call together those of high station, but
those whom the Ruach has prepared; 11 for you are all workers
subject to your bosses as though they were a type of god: serve
them in humility and awe-filled respect. 12 You will hate all
hypocrisy, and everything that is not pleasing to YHWH. 13 You will
never abandon the commands of YHWH, but will guard all that you
have received, neither adding to the mitzvot nor taking away from
them. 14 Among the yahadim you will confess your shortcomings. You
will not go to prayer with a guilty conscience. And this is the
road of life.
Death’s Road
Didache 5:1 But this is the road of death: First of all, this road
is evil and fully cursed with murders, adulteries, rapes,
lecheries, thefts, idolatries, magic, witchcrafts, extortions,
lyings, performances, double-crossings, betrayals, pridefulness,
deviousness, stubbornness, covetousness, filthy-speaking,
jealousies, assaults, self-promotions, and boastings.
2 Death’s road is cursed with persecutors of good folks, those
hating the truth, loving the lie, not recognizing the reward of
right-doing, not holding to the good nor exercising right judgment;
also restlessness – but not for the good but for evil – those from
whom tenderness and tolerance stand far apart; those in love with
worthless things, running after accolades, not pitying the poor,
not toiling for the one oppressed with toil, not recognizing the
One who made them. Didache 5:2b Such are murderers of children,
spoilers of those molded by Elohim, turning the back on the needy,
oppressing the afflicted, promoting the rich, assessing the poor
unjustly, being perfectly lawless. May you be delivered, my
children, from all these things.
THE MASTER’S WHOLE YOKE
Righteousness’ Road Didache 6:1 Pay attention just in case someone
leads you astray from this road of righteousness; he is teaching
you that which is beyond Elohim. 2 If you can bear the Master’s
whole yoke, you will be complete; but if you cannot, do the best
you can.
Eating Didache 6:3 Regarding eating, do the best you can; yet by
all means abstain entirely from meat sacrificed to idols; for
eating such is worshipping the gods of the dead.
Baptisms
Didache 7:1 Regarding miqvot, here is how you will do them. After
reciting all the necessary words, do miqvot in the name of h’Avi
and haBen and haRuach Qodesh in running water. 2 If you do not have
running water, you can do miqvot in other water; and if you do not
have cold water, warm will do. 3 If you have neither, pour water on
the head three times in the name of h’Avi and ha Ben and ha Ruach
Qodesh.
Fasting Didache 7:4 Yet before the baptism, let both the one who
cleanses and the one who is cleansed fast, as well as all others
who are able; in fact, you will order the one who is to be cleansed
to fast a day or two before. 8:1 But do not allow yourself to fast
with the pretenders: those who fast on the second of the seven days
and the fifth. You must fast on the fourth day and on the day of
preparation.
Praying Didache 8:2 Do not pray as do the pretenders, but as the
Master commanded in his Tov Besorah. Pray this way:
Avenu in the shamayim, your name is qadosh. May your meluqa come
and your will be fulfilled on ha’aretz as in the shamayim. Give us
our bread for today. Forgive our debt as we forgive our debtors.
May we not be lead into testing, but free us from the evil one,
since all the koach and kavod through the ages are yours. 8:3 Pray
this way three times every day.
The Sacrifice On The Lord’s Day Didache 14:1 Now on account of the
Sovereign command of YHWH, in gathering to break bread and to give
todah, confess your shortcomings first off so your sacrifice may be
clean; then gather in yahad and break bread
while-offering-up-your-todah. 2 Do not allow anyone who is
belligerent with his comrade to join your qahal until all has been
settled, so your sacrifice may not be filthy, 3 since this is the
sacrifice spoken of by YHWH: In every place and at every time,
offer me a clean sacrifice; for I AM a great meleq, says YHWH,
and
My name is awe-inspiring among the tribes.
The Thanksgiving (Todah Rabbah) (Eucharist) Didache 9:1 Now
concerning the Todah Rabbah, give todah this way: 2 First, for the
cup: We give you todah, Avinu, for the Special Vine of your son
Dawid, who you made known to us through your son Yahshua; may all
kavod be yours l’olam va-ed. 3 Then concerning the piece of bread:
We give you todah, Avinu, for the life and knowledge that you made
known to us through your son Yahshua; may all kavod be yours l’olam
va-ed. 4 As this broken bread was scattered on the mountains then
gathered together to become one, so may your Qahal be gathered
together from the ends of the earth into your Meluqah; for yours is
the kavod and koach through Yahshua haMoshiach l’olam va-ed.
5 Allow no one to eat or drink any of this Todah Rabbah,unless they
have completed miqvah in the name of the Master; who has spoken
about this matter: Do not give that which is qadosh to goyim.
Didache 10:1 After you are content, you will give todah in this
fashion: 2 We give you Todah Rabbah, Av haQodesh, for your qadosh
name, which you have caused to tent within our hearts; and for the
knowledge, trust, and endurance that you have made known to us
through Yahshua your son. May yours be kavod l’olam va-ed.
3 Almighty Sovereign, you created everything for your name's sake.
You have given food and drink to benefit all so every single person
might have the occasion to give-you todah. Moreover, to us you
impart spiritual food and drink, and enduring life through your
son. 4 Yet before all the rest, we give todah for your great koach.
May kavod be yours l’olam va-ed.5 Remember your qahal, O Sovereign.
Save her from all evil and perfect her in your charity. Gather her
people in yahad from the four winds and into your meleqa that you
have prepared for her as the Qahal ha Qodesh. May koach and kavod
be yours l’olam va-ed.
Didaché 10:6 May favor draw closer and closer as this world passes
away.
Hoshana l‘Elohei Dawid! (If somebody is qadosh, let that one come;
if somebody is not, let that one have-a-change- of-mind.)
Marana Tha. Amein. 7 (At this point, permit the neviïm to offer
todah as much as they want.)
Different Ministries Ministers:
Didache 11:1 Whoever comes to teach you lessons that have been set
forth previously, receive him. 2 If the moreh is off the mark,
teaching a lesson different and destructive, do not listen. If the
moreh is leaning toward the greater teshuvah and da’at of the
Master, receive that one as the Master himself. 3 Regarding
shlichim and neviïm, do according to the doctrines in the Tov
Besorah. 4 Let each sholiach who comes to you be received as the
Master; 5 but not to stay more than a day, or if need be, a second.
If the stay is for three days, he is a sheqer-nevi.
6 When leaving, let the sholiach receive nothing but food until he
finds a place to stay; but if he asks for money, he is a
sheqer-nevi. 7 You will not attempt to interpret what a nevi is
saying in the ruach, for every shortcoming will be forgiven, but
this shortcoming will not be forgiven. 8 Not everyone who speaks in
the ruach is a nevi, but only if he is on the Master’s roads. From
his roads, the sheqer and the nevi will be recognized. 9 And no
nevi, when he orders a table in the ruach, will eat from it; if it
so happen, he is a sheqer-nevi.
10 Every nevi promoting emet is still a sheqer nevi if he does not
practice what he preaches. 11 And every nevi approved and found
emet, if he participates in, say, a public siddur typical of the
qahal, yet instructs you not to do that which he himself does – he
will not be judged before you in public, for he has received his
verdict already in the presence of Elohim (just as the ancient
neviïm received). 12 Whoever will say in the ruach, Give me silver!
Or anything else like it, you will not listen to him; however, if
he tells you to give on the behalf of those in need, no one may
judge him.
Welcome One Who Comes In The Name of YHVH
Didache 12:1 Welcome each one who comes in the name of YHWH. Once
you have examined him, you will find out about him; for you will
know from both the right hand and the left. 2 If the visitor is a
traveler, help him out as much as you can; but more than a stay of
two or three days is beyond your obligation. 3 If he is a skilled
worker and wants to settle in among you, let him get work and eat
his bread that way. 4 If he has no skill and still wants to stay,
use your connections to provide a means by which he may live as one
of the Anointed, but not in idleness. 5 If he will not do it this
way, he is mining-the anointed. Beware of such.
Giving (Fruit-fruits)
Didache 13:1 Yet each Nevi Emet who wants to settle among you is
worth his food. 2 Likewise, a Moreh Emet is worth his food just
like any other worker. 3 So you will take all first- fruits of the
produce, the wine-vat, the threshing-floor, of your cattle and
sheep, and give them as first-fruits to the neviïm; for they are
your kohenim hagadol. 4 If you have no nevi, provide for the poor
instead.
5 If you bake bread, take the first-fruits and give in accordance
with the mitzvah. 6 Likewise, when you open a bottle of wine or
oil, take the first-fruits and give them to the neviïm; 7 yes, and
even of money, clothing, and every other possession – take the
first- fruits, whatever seems fair to you – and give in accordance
to the mitzvah.
Leadership
Didache 15:1 Now appoint for yourselves mevaqqerim and evedim
worthy in the sight of the Master, those who are humble and not
money-lovers, but truthful and responsible; for they also perform
the service of the neviïm and morim for your own good. 2 Since they
do, you may not look down on them, for they are your Standing Ones
right alongside the neviïm and morim.
Examination
Didache 15:3 You all must examine one another, not in anger but in
a composed manner, as you find in the Tov Besorah. Let no one speak
to a person who has “gone off” against his neighbor, and do not
allow him to hear even one word from you until he commits to
teshuvah. 4 As for the rest – your prayers, giving, and all your
acts – practice these just as you find in our Master’s Tov
Besorah.
Last Resorts
The Last Days:
Didache 16:1 Watch over your own life! Do not allow your lights to
be extinguished and your belt to be without a weapon, but you must
be ready because you do not know the hour in which our Master
comes! 2 So you must gather yourselves in yahad often, seeking
those things that are most appropriate for you; for the whole time
you believed will not profit you at all if you are not perfected in
the final moment. 3 In the last days, the sheqer neviïm and
corrupters will be multiplied, and the sheep will be turned into
wolves, and love will be turned into hate.
4 For as crime increases, they all will hate, persecute, and betray
each other. Then the Deceiver-of-the-Cosmos will appear as though
it were the Ben-Elohim, and it will work in performances and
monstrosities, and ha’eretz will be given over into its hands. And
it will do perversities such as have never occurred in any
age.
A Great Ordeal
5 Then all humankind will be brought to the trial-fire; many will
be greatly dismayed and so perish; but the ones who, by their firm
belief, STAND UP – they will be rescued by the Curse(d One)
Himself.
Signs of Truth
6 Then will appear the True Signs:
-The first sign: rending open the shamayim;
-The second sign: the Qol Shofar; and
-The third: a STANDING UP of the dead, 7 yet not all (the dead);
for as it has been recorded:
The Didache or The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles is a brief
anonymous early Christian treatise, dated by most modern scholars
to the first century. The first line of this treatise is "Teaching
of the Lord to the Gentiles by the Twelve Apostles".
Wikipedia
Jonathan Draper writes (Gospel Perspectives, v. 5, p. 269):
Since it was discovered in a monastery in Constantinople and
published by P. Bryennios in 1883, the Didache or Teaching of the
Twelve Apostles has continued to be one of the most disputed of
early Christian texts. It has been depicted by scholars as anything
between the original of the Apostolic Decree (c. 50 AD) and a late
archaising fiction of the early third century. It bears no date
itself, nor does it make reference to any datable external event,
yet the picture of the Church which it presents could only be
described as primitive, reaching back to the very earliest stages
of the Church's order and practice in a way which largely agrees
with the picture presented by the NT, while at the same time posing
questions for many traditional interpretations of this first period
of the Church's life.
Fragments of the Didache were found at Oxyrhyncus (P. Oxy 1782)
from the fourth century and in coptic translation (P. Lond. Or.
9271), from 3/4th century. Traces of the use of this text, and the
high regard it enjoyed, are widespread in the literature of the
second and third centuries especially in Syria and Egypt. It was
used by the compilator of the Didascalia (C 2/3rd) and the Liber
Graduun (C 3/4th), as well as being absorbed in toto by the
Apostolic Constitutions (C c. 3/4th, abbreviated as Ca) and
partially by various Egyptian and Ethiopian Church Orders, after
which it ceased to circulate independently. Athanasius describes it
as 'appointed by the Fathers to be read by those who newly join us,
and who wish for instruction in the word of goodness' [Festal
Letter 39:7]. Hence a date for the Didache in its present form
later than the second century must be considered unlikely, and a
date before the end of the first century probable.